“Not seriously,” was the reply. “Will you kindly help me up?”
With Jack’s help Harry got the old man on his feet. He was a tall man, of splendid aspect, over sixty years of age. He looked like a gentleman of wealth and position.
“You have had a narrow escape, sir,” said our hero.
“Yes, indeed,” answered the old man, “thanks to your brave interference. It surprises me that my brutal assailant should have run away from two boys.”
“I am surprised also, sir. I feared we should have a hard fight. I suppose his object was robbery.”
“Yes, he must have heard in some way that I had a large sum of money about me. Thanks to you, it is safe.”
“I am very glad, sir.”
“Do you mind accompanying me to my house? This attack has made me timid.”
“With pleasure, sir.”
The old gentleman lived perhaps a quarter of a mile distant in a handsome house. He pressed the boys to enter, and they did so. He questioned them as to their plans, and then selecting two bank-notes, urged the boys to accept them as a recognition of the help they had given him at a critical moment. The boys, however, declined positively to accept any compensation, but expressed their satisfaction at having been of service.